Worthington School District
Purpose of the Grade Level Guide
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Provide parents a general overview of the content taught at each grade level
Provide information regarding the district instructional materials used to teach the content
Provide parents a general overview of the intellectual, social, physical, and emotional
characteristics of a child in this grade level
List resources that can be used to gain additional information regarding the Ohio Common Core
State Standards in ELA and Math and the Ohio State Standards in Science and Social Studies
Provide resources to assist parents in supporting their child’s learning
Provide district contacts to whom questions can be directed
Communication with Parents
Communication regarding a student’s program and progress in learning comes in many different ways
and forms throughout the year. The chart below best describes the total “Communication Pie.” The
Grade Level Guide is one “slice” of the pie. It is intended to give you a snapshot of what to expect at
each grade level and resources to help you gain more information about both the Common Core State
Standards for ELA and Math and the Ohio State Standards for Science and Social Studies.
Program Information
Individual Communications
 Ohio Academic Content Standards
 Graded Courses of Study
 Grade Level Guides
 Course Handbooks
 Strategic Balanced Literacy Framework
 Newsletters
 Websites
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Student/Parent/Teacher
Conferences
Phone Calls
Student Plan Books
Email
Assessed Student Work
Formal Progress Reports
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 Goal Setting
 Progress Reporting
 Intervention Plans
Quarterly Reports
Interim Reports
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Grade Cards
Electronic
www.worthington.k12.oh.us
200 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085  614-450-6000  Fax 614-883-3076  2013-2014  Thomas Tucker, Ph.D., Superintendent
This Grade Level Guide is intended to give you an overview of the content in the core
academic courses, materials used, and resources to help you gain more information about
both the Ohio Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Math and the Ohio
State Standards in Social Studies and Science.
Grade
NOTE: This document contains hyperlinks connecting you with samples of the resources used
in Worthington Schools if the document is read electronically. These hyperlinks are meant to
be a representative sample of the resources and not a comprehensive list of the materials
used in our classrooms.
W o r t hi n g t o n S cho o l s – G r a d e O n e G ui d e
Language Arts
The Common Core State
Standards in English Language
Arts, adopted by the Ohio
Department of Education, are
K-12 standards that provide the
basis for a rigorous education in
the Worthington Schools.
The board adopted approach to
comprehensive literacy instruction
is the Strategic Balanced Literacy
Framework (SBLF) adopted by the
Worthington Board of Education in
April 2006. The SBLF Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) document
provides more information on the
guiding principles of this framework.
Students in the first grade recognize
and decode print, develop reading
strategies, and read a variety of
complex texts fluently. They
demonstrate a growing knowledge of
sight words, decode by using lettersound matches, and blend sounds
into words. They develop and learn
to apply strategies that help them to
comprehend literary and
informational text, to analyze and
evaluate texts, and to self-monitor
their own comprehension. Students
demonstrate their understanding of
text by participating in
conversations about topics they are
studying and by responding to
individuals and groups about what
they are reading and writing. As
they read a variety of authors,
illustrators, and genres, students
describe people, places, things and
events with relevant details,
expressing ideas and feelings clearly
and in complete sentences.
Through reading, writing, speaking
and listening, and language
development, students build their
vocabulary and word knowledge. In
writing, students participate in
shared research and writing projects
while focusing on mechanics and
conventions, openings and closings,
and supplying facts.
District Instructional Materials:
D’Nealian Handwriting;
Touchphonics; Sitton Spelling
Program; Write Source; and a variety
of literature and nonfiction
materials
Mathematics
First grade introduces many new
skills in math and builds on them
throughout the year. First grade
experiences the following content:
solving addition and subtraction
word problems in situations of
adding to, taking from, putting
together, taking apart, and
comparing; adding with a sum of 20
or less; subtracting from a number
20 or less, for example by using
strategies based around the number
10; quickly and accurately adding
with a sum of 10 or less and quickly
and accurately subtracting from a
number 10 or less; understanding
what the digits mean in two-digit
numbers (place value); using
understanding of place value to add
and subtract; measuring lengths of
objects by using a shorter object as
a unit of length; making composite
shapes by joining shapes together;
and dividing circles and rectangles
into halves or fourths. Children
learn basic skills in meaningful
ways so that mathematics becomes
real. They learn to communicate
mathematically and solve problems
by making connections between
their own knowledge and their
experiences in school and outside of
school.
District Instructional Material:
Stepping Stones
Social Studies
Families Now and Long Ago, Near
and Far
The first grade year builds on the
concepts developed in kindergarten
by focusing on the individual as a
member of a family. Students begin
to understand how families lived
long ago and how they live in other
cultures. They develop concepts
about how the world is organized
spatially through beginning map
skills. They build the foundation for
understanding principles of
government and their roles as
citizens.
District Instructional Material:
Harcourt Social Studies: A Child’s
View
Worthington Schools  Grade Level One  2013-2014
Science
Visual Arts
The first grade theme focuses on
helping students develop the skills
for systematic discovery to
understand the science of the
natural world around them in
greater depth by using scientific
inquiry. Science instruction in the
first grade builds upon the science
skills introduced in kindergarten
and from the child’s life experiences.
In Earth Science, first graders will
learn about the sun as a source of
energy and energy changes that
occur to land, air and water. In
Physical Science, they will learn
about changes in properties that
occur in objects and materials and
that change of position of an object
is the result of pushing and pulling.
In Life Science, students will learn
about the physical needs of living
things in Ohio. Energy from the sun
or food, nutrients, water, shelter
and air are some of the physical
needs of living things.
Art History
 Recognizes common subjects,
ideas and themes used by artists
of the past and present
Communicating Through Art
 Develops skill in using a variety of
tools, materials and processes
while creating works of art
Art Criticism
 Observes and describes materials,
tools, images and ideas used to
create works of art
Valuing Art
 Explains how personal
preferences influence the art
individuals have
District Instructional Material:
Newbridge Science
Health
First grade learners develop a
growing awareness of community
that broadens their perspectives and
needs to include friends, school
helpers, and extended family. The
human growth and development
unit taught in first grade focuses on
several internal and external body
parts and the five senses. Also in
the curriculum are safety and risk
reduction; exercise and nutrition;
and an awareness of alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs.
District Instructional Material:
Health Resource Guide – 1
Music
Historical, Cultural, and Social
Contexts
 Demonstrates knowledge and
understanding of a variety of
music styles, cultures, and
musicians both past and present
Creative Expression and
Communication
 Sings, plays instruments, moves,
reads, notates, improvises, and
creates music
Analyzing and Responding
 Listens to a varied repertoire of
music and responds by analyzing
and describing music using
correct vocabulary
 Evaluates the creating and
performing of music
Valuing Music/Aesthetic
Reflection
 Develops an understanding of
why people value music and is
encouraged to respect diverse
opinions regarding music
preferences
 Expresses the significance of
music in his/her life
Connections, Relationships, and
Applications
 Identifies the similarities and
differences and recognizes the
relationship between music and
other arts disciplines, as well as
other curricular subjects
 Develops a desire for lifelong
learning in music
Grade
Wellness 4 Life
Value of Lifetime Fitness
 Engages in regular physical
activity inside and outside of
school to meet national
recommendations for daily
physical activity
 Understands and demonstrates
the principles, components, and
practices of health-related
physical fitness
Sport Skills and Strategies
 Demonstrates locomotor and
non-locomotor skills in a variety
of ways
 Demonstrates developing control
of fundamental manipulative
skills
 Demonstrates knowledge of
movement concepts related to
body, space, effort, and
relationships
 Demonstrates knowledge of
critical elements of fundamental
motor skills
Character Development
 Knows and follows procedures
and safe practices
 Demonstrates responsible
behavior in physical activity
settings
Wellness Connections
 Enjoys participation in a variety
of physical activities
 Discovers that physical activities
promote self-expression and
positive social interaction
Worthington Schools  Grade Level One  2013-2014
Wo rth i n g to n Sch o o l D i s tri ct Gra d e Le ve l On e Gui d e
General Characteristics of Grade 1 Children
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Intellectual
have difficulty verbalizing thoughts
achieve according to ability
respond with spontaneity
are curious
have varying attention span
are able to observe sequence
are interested in here and now
exaggerate
learn by doing
solve simple problems
are easily distracted because of short attention span
have difficulty making decisions
learn through concrete situations
need active participation
are interested in the process of doing, rather than
the end product
Physical
need physical activity
develop at varying rates
have incomplete eye-hand coordination
are active, but tire easily
are quiet for short periods of time only
develop large muscles before small
may be farsighted
lose primary teeth
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Emotional
like to feel independent
find security in routine
love humor, yet cry with equal ease
begin to acquire self-confidence
need recognition
feel strong links with home
begin to acquire self-control
are sensitive and expressive about feelings
need a sense of belonging
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Social
try to live up to adult expectations
display self-confidence
are anxious to gain adult approval
show interest in adult activities
like group activities
need help in developing manners and habits
are willing to assume responsibility in own group
display seriousness in play activities
develop a need to share thoughts and objects
District and State Assessment Schedule
To view the District Assessment Calendar, log on to the district website http://www.worthington.k12.oh.us,
select the “Our District” tab, click on “Calendars,” and select “2013-2014 Assessment Schedule.”
Resources
For additional information regarding our curriculum and programs, please refer to the following resources:
Worthington Schools Website:
Ohio Department of Education Website:
http://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/
If you have questions, please feel free to discuss them with your child’s teacher, the building principal, or contact
any of us in the Department of Academic Achievement. You can also use the district website to contact any
administrator in the district through email.
200 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085  614-450-6000  Fax 614-883-3076  2013-2014  Thomas Tucker, Ph.D., Superintendent